Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/298

260 ON THE GAME OF PALL MALL. It has not been ascertained at Avhat time the game ceased to be in vogue. Amongst the plates engraved by John Kip for the '• Britannia IlUistrata,' produced by Joseph Smith, 1710' — 1719, representations occur of St. James' Palace and of the Park. A brief description notices amongst the attractions of the latter — " un tres beau mail," shown in both j)lates, and occupying the central avenue of the long walk, planted probably under the direction of Le Notre, and still known as the Mall. It here appears to have been se|)aratcd from the avenues on either side by a low barricade, upon the rail of which persons are seated ; this served doubtlcs.s to confine the ball within bounds and to keep off intruders. Two gentlemen arc engaged in the game ; they hold malls precisely similar to those which have been described ; and the engraver has not neglected to represent the artificial surfcice of the " well polished mall." No arch appears at either end of the avenue. In a later represen- tation of the Park given in an enlarged edition of Smith's publication in 1724, entitled " Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne," the Mall is distinctly shown ; but it may be supposed that the game was at that time on the decline. A number of ladies and fasliionable loungers, as described by Swift in his letters to Stella, appear to have taken possession of the ^[all, whilst the barricade at its sides is occupied by seats. The game of Pall 'MnW appears to have been mucli practised in vai'ious parts (»f Euro})e, and many cities had their ]Ialls appropriated to this exercise. Sir Richard Jirowne, in a letter cited by Lord Braybrooke,'^ describes the " Paille-i^Iailes" of Paris as reduced to three only — the Tuilleries, the Palais Royal, and the Arsenal ; there was also one Ileal* the Celestines. Evelyn, in his Memoirs, speaks with adiiiiratioii of the stately well-shaded Pall ]rallat IMois, and of that at Tours, the noblest in Euro})e lor length and shade, having seven rows of very tall elms, lie notices also the Pall Mall at Lyons and another at (Jeneva. There was a noted one at Altona, and (h)ubtK'ss many other local vestiges might be traced dfthis once popular anuisement. Al.lli:i{T WAV. •* Solv to 1*( |iyii' Diiiry, (il. i. p. ii.